U.S. patent application number 13/024585 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for achilles stretching devices and methods performed therewith.
Invention is credited to Prasad Gourineni.
Application Number | 20120040803 13/024585 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45565248 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120040803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gourineni; Prasad |
February 16, 2012 |
ACHILLES STRETCHING DEVICES AND METHODS PERFORMED THEREWITH
Abstract
Therapeutic devices and methods stretching the Achilles tendon.
Each device includes base and wedge portions. The wedge portion has
heel and toe ends, inside-foot and outside-foot edges, and an upper
surface that includes a planar surface portion that lies in a wedge
plane and an arcuate surface portion defined by a projection that
extends out of the wedge plane. The wedge plane has a nonuniform
elevation relative to the base portion as a result of the wedge
portion having a fore-aft taper in the fore-aft direction and a
lateral taper in the lateral direction. The fore-aft taper and the
lateral taper are sufficient so that placement of a user's foot on
the upper surface of the wedge portion causes supination and
locking of the foot and enables stretching of the Achilles complex,
while the arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the
arcuate surface portion.
Inventors: |
Gourineni; Prasad; (Oak
Brook, IL) |
Family ID: |
45565248 |
Appl. No.: |
13/024585 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12750754 |
Mar 31, 2010 |
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13024585 |
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61164975 |
Mar 31, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/79 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/142 20130101;
A61H 2201/1284 20130101; A61H 2201/1253 20130101; A43B 13/148
20130101; A61H 1/0266 20130101; A61H 2201/1642 20130101; A43B 7/145
20130101; A61F 5/14 20130101; A43B 7/223 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/79 |
International
Class: |
A63B 23/08 20060101
A63B023/08 |
Claims
1. A therapeutic device for the foot, the device comprising: a base
portion; a wedge portion having oppositely-disposed heel and toe
ends in a fore-aft direction thereof, oppositely-disposed
inside-foot and outside-foot edges in a lateral direction thereof;
an upper surface delineated by the heel and toe ends and the
inside-foot and outside-foot edges of the wedge portion, the upper
surface comprising a planar surface portion that lies in a wedge
plane and an arcuate surface portion defined by a projection that
extends out of the wedge plane, the wedge plane having a nonuniform
elevation relative to the base portion as a result of the wedge
portion having a fore-aft taper in the fore-aft direction and a
lateral taper in the lateral direction wherein the inside-foot edge
has a higher elevation at the toe end than at the heel end and the
outside-foot edge has a substantially constant elevation in the
fore-aft direction; the fore-aft taper and the lateral taper being
sufficient so that placement of a user's heel on the upper surface
at the heel end and the user's toes on the upper surface at the toe
end causes supination and locking of the foot and enables
stretching of the Achilles complex; and the projection extending
from the inside-foot edge toward but not to the outside-foot edge
in the lateral direction, and extending between but not to the toe
and heel ends of the wedge portion, the arcuate surface portion of
the projection having arcuate contours in both the lateral and
fore-aft directions, and the arcuate contours of the arcuate
surface portion defining an apex that is at least ten millimeters
to about forty millimeters from the wedge plane.
2. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the
inside-foot edge at the toe end is elevated about 2.5 to about 10
centimeters above the outside-foot edge as a result of the fore-aft
taper and the lateral taper of the wedge portion.
3. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the
projection extends about 5.5 to about 7.5 centimeters from the
inside-foot edge toward the outside-foot edge in the lateral
direction, and extends about 9 to about 11 centimeters along the
inside-foot edge in the fore-aft direction.
4. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate
contours of the arcuate surface portion are parabolic or
sinusoidal.
5. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the base
portion comprises a rocker feature that enables the wedge portion
to be pitched fore and aft for increased stretching of the Achilles
complex.
6. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the
nonuniform elevation of the upper surface of the wedge portion
relative to the base portion is a result of the wedge portion
having a nonuniform thickness defined by the fore-aft taper and the
lateral taper of the wedge portion.
7. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the wedge
portion is a first wedge portion of the device and the device
further comprises a second wedge portion that is a mirror image of
the first wedge portion, the first and second wedge portions
causing simultaneously supination and locking of both feet of the
user and enabling stretching of the Achilles complexes of both feet
of the user.
8. The therapeutic device according to claim 7, wherein the first
and second wedge portions are not coupled to each other.
9. The therapeutic device according to claim 7, wherein the first
and second wedge portions are coupled to each other.
10. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the upper
surface of the wedge portion is a slip-resistant surface.
11. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the device
is a freestanding structure, the base portion is adapted for
placement on a surface of a floor or ground, and the wedge portion
enables weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex.
12. The therapeutic device according to claim 11, further
comprising means for securing the wedge portion to the foot.
13. The therapeutic device according to claim 11, further
comprising means for adjusting the elevation of the wedge portion
relative to the base portion.
14. The therapeutic device according to claim 13, wherein the
adjusting means comprises a rail coupled to the wedge portion and
an abutment member movable into engagement with the rail to cause
the wedge portion to pivot relative to the base portion and
increase the elevation of the upper surface of the wedge portion
relative to the base portion.
15. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the device
is a shoe and the wedge portion causes weight-bearing stretching of
the Achilles complex when the user walks and runs while wearing the
shoe.
16. The therapeutic device according to claim 15, wherein the wedge
portion is a removable insert in the shoe.
17. The therapeutic device according to claim 15, wherein the wedge
portion is an integral portion of a sole of the shoe.
18. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the device
is a splint and the nonuniform elevation of the upper surface of
the wedge portion relative to the base portion is a result of the
splint twisting the wedge portion.
19. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the device
is an apparatus comprising at least one strap attached to the base
portion, the wedge portion being between first and second ends of
the strap by which a user can pull the wedge portion to cause
stretching of the Achilles complex.
20. The therapeutic device according to claim 1, wherein the wedge
portion has a nonconstant lateral width in the lateral direction
and a toe width at the toe end thereof that is greater than a heel
width at the heel end thereof.
21. A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device
according to claim 1, the method comprising placing a user's foot
against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of
the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel
end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against
the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to
cause supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the
Achilles complex, and so that an arch of the user's foot is against
and supported by the arcuate surface portion between the heel and
toe ends of the wedge portion.
22. A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device
according to claim 11, the method comprising: placing a user's foot
against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of
the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel
end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against
the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to
cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that an arch of
the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface
portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge portion; and
then shifting weight of the user to the foot to cause
weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex.
23. A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device
according to claim 15, the method comprising: donning of the shoe
by a user to cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that
an arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate
surface portion; and then walking in the shoe to cause
weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex.
24. A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device
according to claim 18, the method comprising donning of the splint
by a user by placing the user's foot against the upper surface of
the wedge portion so that a heel of the user's foot is against the
planar surface portion at the heel end of the wedge portion and
toes of the user's foot are against the planar surface portion at
the toe end of the wedge portion to cause supination and locking of
the foot and stretching of the Achilles complex, and so that an
arch of the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate
surface portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge
portion.
25. A method of stretching of the Achilles complex using the device
according to claim 19, the method comprising: placing a user's foot
against the upper surface of the wedge portion so that a heel of
the user's foot is against the planar surface portion at the heel
end of the wedge portion and toes of the user's foot are against
the planar surface portion at the toe end of the wedge portion to
cause supination and locking of the foot, and so that an arch of
the user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface
portion between the heel and toe ends of the wedge portion; and
then pulling on the first and second ends of the strap to cause
supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles
complex.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part patent application of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/750,754, filed Mar.
31, 2010, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/164,975, filed Mar. 31, 2009. The contents of these patent
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to therapy and
physical fitness equipment, and more particularly to devices
capable of stretching the calf muscle-Achilles tendon unit.
[0003] The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel of
the foot. The calf muscles pull on the heel through the Achilles
tendon, enabling propulsion of the human body through the foot for
walking and jumping activities. The combined length of the calf
muscles and Achilles tendon should be short enough to contract
strongly and generate enough power for daily activities, and also
permit sufficient stretching to allow about ten to twenty degrees
of ankle dorsiflexion. If the calf muscles and Achilles tendon
cannot stretch and allow ankle dorsiflexion to this extent, the
midfoot and the forefoot see abnormal stresses leading to pain and
conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, posterior tibial
tendon dysfunction, stress fracture, and arthritis.
[0004] The normal human foot is a dynamic structure that can
function as a flexible unit capable of adapting to uneven support
surfaces during weight bearing, as well as a rigid unit capable of
forward propulsion through tightening of the calf muscles. The
loosening and stiffening of the foot automatically occur as a
result of locking and unlocking the midfoot during walking and
running. The same mechanism can be used in a reverse fashion to
lock the midfoot and stiffen the foot by maximally lifting the big
toe (hallux) and its metatarsal bone away from the ground or the
level of the fifth toe and its metatarsal bone (supination of the
forefoot). One can also pronate the forefoot by elevating the fifth
metatarsal relative to the first metatarsal, which results in
unlocking the foot and stretching the arch of the foot.
[0005] The Achilles tendon can be stretched by daily activities and
specific exercises that force the forefoot (toes and metatarsus)
toward the leg. In adults, weight-bearing exercises are generally
more useful for stretching the Achilles tendon, whereas in children
stretching is typically best accomplished with the assistance of an
adult. Dynamic splints that provide constant stretching of the
tendon can be used by both adults and children. However, such
devices achieve limited stretching of the Achilles tendon because
stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles tendon unit is more
effective if the foot acts as a rigid lever and transmits all the
stretch to the Achilles. If the foot is not rigid, some of the
stretching forces tend to stretch the arch of the foot and can
create or worsen an existing flatfoot condition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides therapeutic devices and
methods suitable for stretching the Achilles tendon. The devices
provide for supination of the forefoot to make the foot more rigid
and allow better stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles unit.
Furthermore, the devices provide support for the arch of the foot,
reducing stretching forces that would tend to stretch the arch of
the foot and create or worsen an existing flatfoot condition.
[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention, a therapeutic
device is provided that comprises a wedge portion and a base
portion. The wedge portion has oppositely-disposed heel and toe
ends in a fore-aft direction of the wedge portion,
oppositely-disposed inside-foot and outside-foot edges in a lateral
direction of the wedge portion, and an upper surface delineated by
the heel and toe ends and the inside-foot and outside-foot edges of
the wedge portion. The upper surface of the wedge portion comprises
a planar surface portion that lies in a wedge plane and an arcuate
surface portion defined by a projection that extends out of the
wedge plane. The wedge plane has a nonuniform elevation relative to
the base portion as a result of the wedge portion having a fore-aft
taper in the fore-aft direction and a lateral taper in the lateral
direction, wherein the inside-foot edge has a higher elevation at
the toe end than at the heel end and the outside-foot edge has a
substantially constant elevation in the fore-aft direction. The
fore-aft taper and the lateral taper are sufficient so that
placement of a user's heel on the upper surface at the heel end and
the user's toes on the upper surface at the toe end causes
supination and locking of the foot and enables stretching of the
Achilles complex. The projection extends from the inside-foot edge
toward but not to the outside-foot edge in the lateral direction,
and extends between but not to the toe and heel ends of the wedge
portion. The arcuate surface portion of the projection has arcuate
contours in both the lateral and fore-aft directions, and the
arcuate contours of the arcuate surface portion define an apex that
is at least ten millimeters to about forty millimeters from the
wedge plane.
[0008] According to further aspects of the invention, the device
can be configured as a freestanding structure, in other words, the
device does not require any additional external structure to
support the device or enable the device to perform its intended
function of supination and locking of the foot during stretching of
the Achilles complex. As such, the base portion is adapted for
placement on a surface of a floor or ground and the wedge portion
enables weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex. The
device can also be configured as a shoe wherein the wedge portion
causes weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex when the
user walks and runs while wearing the shoe, or configured as a
splint wherein the nonuniform elevation of the upper surface of the
wedge portion relative to the base portion is a result of the
splint twisting the wedge portion, or configured as an apparatus
comprising at least one strap attached to the base portion so that
a user can pull the wedge portion to cause stretching of the
Achilles complex.
[0009] Other aspects of the invention include stretching techniques
using the devices described above. In each case, the device is
specifically configured for stretching the Achilles complex of one
foot, yet can also be switched to the opposite foot to pronate that
foot and stretch the arch of the foot, for example, as a
therapeutic treatment for high arched feet.
[0010] A technical effect of the invention is the ability of the
devices to achieve greater stretching of the calf muscle-Achilles
tendon unit as a result of the devices causing supination and
locking of the foot, which results in the foot acting as a rigid
lever that transmits essentially all of a stretching motion to the
Achilles tendon. In this manner, the effectiveness of the
stretching technique is increased to promote the ability of the
calf muscles and Achilles tendon to stretch and allow ankle
dorsiflexion, thereby reducing abnormal stresses within the midfoot
and forefoot. Furthermore, the projection minimizes if not avoids
stretching of the arch of the foot, thereby avoiding the creation
or worsening of a flatfoot condition.
[0011] Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be
better appreciated from the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIGS. 1 and 2 are end and side views, respectively, of a
freestanding Achilles tendon stretching device in accordance with a
first embodiment of this invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a freestanding Achilles
tendon stretching device in accordance with a second embodiment of
this invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side view of a freestanding Achilles tendon
stretching device similar to FIG. 3, but with the addition of a
rocker feature at its lower surface.
[0015] FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the device of FIG. 3 in combination
with shoes (FIGS. 5 and 6), a splint (FIG. 7), and straps (FIG. 8)
in accordance with additional embodiments of the invention.
[0016] FIGS. 9 through 11 are various views of an Achilles tendon
stretching device and its components in accordance with a third
embodiment of this invention.
[0017] FIGS. 12 through 14 represent a perspective view and two
side views of an Achilles tendon stretching device in accordance
with a fourth embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The Figures depict therapeutic devices that can be used to
stretch the Achilles tendon in accordance with particular
embodiments of the invention. For convenience, consistent reference
numbers are used throughout the Figures to identify the same or
functionally equivalent elements. Furthermore, to facilitate the
description of the devices, the terms "fore," "aft," "side,"
"upper," "lower," "right," "left," etc., will be used in reference
to the perspective of a user during use of the devices, and
therefore are relative terms and should not be otherwise
interpreted as limitations to the construction of the devices or as
limiting the scope of the invention.
[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 represent a freestanding Achilles tendon
stretching device 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of this
invention. The device 10 is shown as having wedge portions 12
comprising a left wedge portion 12a and a right wedge portion 12b,
which are essentially mirror images of each other. The wedge
portions 12 are shown coupled to each other through a base portion
14 that comprises two risers 14a and 14b located adjacent heel and
toe ends 16 and 18, respectively, of the wedge portions 12. The
heel and toe ends 16 and 18 are oppositely-disposed in the fore-aft
direction of their respective wedge portions 12. Each wedge portion
12 is further configured to have oppositely-disposed inside-foot
and outside-foot edges 20 and 22 in a lateral direction of the
wedge portion 12, and an upper surface 24 delineated by the heel
and toe ends 16 and 18 and the inside-foot and outside-foot edges
20 and 22.
[0020] The upper surface 24 of each wedge portion 12 is shown to
lie in a plane but have a nonuniform elevation relative to the base
portion 16 as a result of the size and shape of the risers 14a and
14b. In particular, the riser 14a adjacent the heel ends 16 of the
wedge portions 12 is smaller than the riser 14b adjacent the toe
ends 18 of the wedge portions 12, causing the wedge portions 12 to
taper in both the fore-aft and lateral directions relative to a
surface 26 on which the base portion 14 is supported, such that the
inside-foot edge 20 has an increasing elevation toward the toe end
18, while the outside-foot edge 22 has a substantially constant
elevation in the fore-aft direction. In addition, each wedge
portion 12 has a nonconstant lateral width in the lateral direction
as a result of the toe end 18 having a width that is greater than
the width at the heel end 16. For example, the lateral width of
each wedge portion 12 can nominally conform to a typical difference
in the width of a human foot at the toes and heel. For this
purpose, each wedge portion 12 may be sized for a specific range of
foot sizes.
[0021] According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the
fore-aft and lateral tapers of the wedge portions 12 are sufficient
so that placement of one's foot on one of the upper surfaces 24 of
the wedge portions 12 causes supination and locking of the foot and
enables stretching of the Achilles complex. As an example, the
inside-foot edge 20 at the toe end 18 may be elevated about one to
about four inches (about 2.5 to about 10 centimeters) above the
outside-foot edge 22 as a result of the fore-aft and lateral tapers
of each wedge portion 12. As evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the
elevation of the inside-foot edge 20 relative to the outside-foot
edge 22 can be achieved with the outside-foot edge 22 located at
the same level as the surface 26 supporting the device 10.
Alternatively, it is foreseeable that the outside-foot edge 22
could be slightly elevated at the toe end 18 relative to the heel
end 16.
[0022] In use, an individual can utilize either or both wedge
portions 12 of the device 10. In either case, a user places his or
her heel against the upper surface 24 at the heel end 16 of the
wedge portion 12 and places his or her toes against the upper
surface 24 at the toe end 18 of the wedge portion 12 to cause
supination and locking of the foot and stretching of the Achilles
complex. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the device 10
is resting on the support surface 26, the user is able to shift his
or her weight to the foot to cause weight-bearing stretching of the
Achilles complex. Though shown as mirror images of each other to
achieve a similar stretching effect for each foot, the fore-aft and
lateral tapers of the wedge portions 12a and 12b could differ to
achieve a different degree of stretching for the left and right
feet.
[0023] While each wedge portion 12 is specifically configured for
stretching the Achilles complex of either the right or left foot,
each wedge portion 12 can also be used on the foot opposite the
intended foot to pronate the opposite foot and stretch the arch of
that foot, for example, as a therapeutic treatment for high arched
feet.
[0024] Various materials can be used in the construction of the
device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, including but not limited to
plastic, rubber, metal and wood materials and combinations thereof.
Though represented as an assembly of individual components, the
device 10 could be produced as a unitary body, such as by a molding
process that results in the device 10 being a solid body whose
lower part defines the base portion 14 and whose upper part defines
the wedge portions 12a and 12b and their surfaces 24. The upper
surface 24 of each wedge portion 12 can be defined by or covered by
a slip-resistant material, or otherwise treated to have a
slip-resistant surface texture (not shown). In addition or
alternatively, the device 10 can be equipped with straps 28 or
other means for individually securing the user's foot or feet to
the wedge portions 12.
[0025] The embodiments of FIG. 3 through xx share similarities with
the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore the following
discussion of the remaining embodiments will focus primarily on
aspects of these embodiments that differ from the first embodiment
in some notable or significant manner. Other aspects of the
additional embodiments not discussed in any detail can be, in terms
of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was
described for the first embodiment.
[0026] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 through 8, one wedge portion 12
is represented as being a separate freestanding body that, while
capable of being a mirror image of a second wedge portion (not
shown), is not coupled to a second wedge portion. Furthermore, the
wedge portion 12 and base portion 14 of the device 10 are formed as
a unitary body, and the nonuniform elevation of the upper surface
24 of the wedge portion 12 relative to the base portion 14 is the
result of the wedge portion 12 having a nonuniform thickness
defined by its fore-aft and lateral tapers. The wedge portion 12 of
FIGS. 3 through 8 is well suited for being formed by molding,
preferably from a hard plastic or rubber material. Though not
shown, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 can be secured to the
foot with a strap similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, or
secured in any other suitable manner such as with tape or
bandage.
[0027] As evident from FIG. 3, the elevation of the inside-foot
edge 20 relative to the outside-foot edge 22 is achieved with the
outside-foot edge 22 being at level above the surface 26 supporting
the device 10. To promote the retention of the foot on the upper
surface 24, a raised lip 30 is shown as being defined along the
outside-foot edge 22. Use of the device 10 shown in FIG. 3 can be
similar to that described for the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. In
particular, the device 10 can be used as a freestanding structure,
in which case a user is able to place his or her heel against the
upper surface 24 at the heel end 16 of the wedge portion 12, place
his or her toes against the upper surface 24 at the toe end 18 of
the wedge portion 12 to cause supination and locking of the foot,
and then shift his or her weight to the foot to cause
weight-bearing stretching of the Achilles complex. Similar to the
embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, though the wedge portion 12 is
specifically configured for stretching the Achilles complex of
either the right or left foot, the wedge portion 12 can also be
used to pronate the opposite foot for the purpose of stretching the
arch of that foot.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an optional feature of the invention, in which
the wedge portion 12 is equipped with a rocker feature 44 that can
increase the stretching motion further by allowing the wedge
portion 12 to be pitched fore and aft. The rocker feature 44 can be
formed integrally with the base portion 14, such that the lower
surface of the base portion 14 defines the rocker feature 4.
Another option is to form the rocker feature 44 as a discrete
accessory that can be attached to the lower (flat) surface of the
base portion 14.
[0029] FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative applications for the wedge
portion 12 of FIG. 3 in which the wedge portion 12 is sized for
placement in a shoe 40 (FIG. 5) or as an integral or attachable
portion for the sole of a shoe 40 (FIG. 6). In either case, as a
result of the wedge portion 12 being combined with a shoe 40, the
user can don the shoe 40 to cause supination and locking of the
foot, and then walk in the shoe 40 to cause weight-bearing
stretching of the Achilles complex.
[0030] Alternatively, the device 10 can be used in combination with
a leg splint 42 (FIG. 7), in which case the nonconstant elevation
of the surface 24 of the wedge portion 12 can be achieved as a
result of the splint 42 serving as all or part of the base portion
14 to cause twisting of the wedge portion 12 to induce supination
of the foot on which the splint 42 is installed and, as a result,
continuous stretching of the Achilles tendon of that foot. Still
another option for the device 10 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 8, in
which straps 31 are shown attached to the device 10 and whose ends
can be grasped and pulled by a user to twist the wedge portion 12
to induce supination of the foot and cause stretching of the
Achilles tendon of that foot. Finally, as with the embodiments of
FIGS. 1 through 4, the wedge portions 12 of FIGS. 5 through 8 can
also be used to pronate the foot opposite the intended foot for the
purpose of stretching the arch of that foot.
[0031] FIGS. 9 through 11 represent another embodiment of the
invention in which the device 10 is a freestanding structure and
the wedge portions 12a and 12b are coupled together by the base
portion 14. This embodiment provides the additional capability of
adjusting the elevations of the surfaces 24 of the wedge portions
12a and 12b relative to the base portion 14 through an adjustment
feature built into the base portion 14. This capability enables the
device 10 to allow a user to tailor the degree of stretching to
meet his/her flexibility.
[0032] The wedge portions 12a and 12b are shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 as
pivotably attached to the base portion 14, such as with hinges 32
either assembled to or formed integrally with the wedge portions
12a and 12b and base portion 14. The hinges 32 are located at the
outside-foot edge 22 of each wedge portion 12a and 12b, while the
remaining perimeter of each wedge portion 12a and 12b (defined by
the heel and toe ends 16 and 18 and the inside-foot edge 20) is not
coupled to the base portion 14. The wedge portions 12a and 12b have
the lateral taper ascribed to the prior embodiments, though more so
as the upper surface 24 of each wedge portion 12a and 12b is
essentially triangular-shaped. The base portion 14 is represented
as constructed of a face plate 14c attached to a frame 14d. The
frame 14d provides the structural support for a pair of threaded
rod and nut assemblies 34, by which rotation of each rod causes its
corresponding nut to move linearly. As evident from FIGS. 9 to 11,
an abutment member 36 is attached to each nut, such that rotation
of the rod also causes the abutment member 36 to move linearly.
Each rod and nut assembly 36 is oriented transverse to the fore-aft
directions of the wedge portions 12a and 12b, which have tapered
rails 38 that extend downward therefrom into the enclosure defined
by the frame 14d. The rails 38 and abutment members 36 are sized
and arranged so that each abutment member 36 can be linearly moved
by a rod and nut assembly 34 into engagement with its rail 38 to
cause the corresponding wedge portion 12a/12b to pivot relative to
the base portion 14 and increase the elevation of its upper surface
24 relative to the base portion 14. It should be apparent from FIG.
9 that the rod and nut assemblies 34 and the rails 38 they engage
could be oriented parallel to the fore-aft directions of the wedge
portions 12a and 12b and still be capable of elevating and lowering
the wedge portions 12a and 12b. Furthermore, it should be noted
that other actuation mechanisms could be used in place of the rod
and nut assembly 36, including pistons, expanders, jacks, and rack
and pinion mechanisms.
[0033] Lastly, the embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 14 is represented
as a separate freestanding body similar to that shown and described
in reference to FIG. 3, but with the further inclusion of a
projection 46 disposed on the upper surface 24 of the wedge
portion. From the following, it should be understood that the
projection 46 and additional features discussed below in reference
to FIGS. 12 through 14 can be employed with any of the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1 through 11.
[0034] Similar to the therapeutic device 10 of FIG. 3, the device
10 represented in FIGS. 12 through 14 includes wedge and base
portions 12 and 14, with the wedge portion 12 having
oppositely-disposed heel and toe ends 16 and 18 in the fore-aft
direction and oppositely-disposed inside-foot and outside-foot
edges 20 and 22 in the lateral direction. Furthermore, the upper
surface 24 of the wedge portion 12 is delineated by the heel and
toe ends 16 and 18 and by the inside-foot and outside-foot edges 20
and 22. As with the device 10 of FIG. 3, the upper surface 24
comprises a planar surface portion 24a that lies in a wedge plane
48. However, due to the presence of the projection 46, the device
10 of FIGS. 12 through 14 further comprises an arcuate surface
portion 24b defined by the projection 46. The projection 46 and its
arcuate surface portion 24b extend out of the wedge plane 48, as
particularly evident from FIG. 13. As with the upper surface 24 of
the prior embodiments, the planar surface portion 24a lying in the
wedge plane 48 has a nonuniform elevation relative to the base
portion 14 as a result of the wedge portion 12 having a fore-aft
taper in the fore-aft direction and a lateral taper in the lateral
direction, such that the inside-foot edge 20 has a higher elevation
at the toe end 18 than at the heel end 16. In contrast, the
outside-foot edge 22 can have a substantially constant elevation in
the fore-aft direction.
[0035] As seen in FIG. 12, the projection 46 extends from the
inside-foot edge 20 toward but not to the outside-foot edge 24 in
the lateral direction, and extends between but not to the heel and
toe ends 16 and 18 of the wedge portion 12, essentially placing the
projection 46 at a location corresponding to the arch of a user's
foot. In a preferred embodiment, the projection 46 extends up to
about 6.5 centimeters, more preferably about 4.5 to about 6.5
centimeters, from the inside-foot edge 20 toward the outside-foot
edge 24 in the lateral direction, and extends about 9 to about 11
centimeters, for example about 10 centimeters, along the
inside-foot edge 20 in the fore-aft direction. Furthermore, the
projection 46 may be spaced a distance of about 8 to about 9.5
centimeters, more preferably about 9 centimeters, from both the
heel and toe ends 16 and 18.
[0036] The arcuate surface portion 24b defined by the projection 46
is intended to correspond to the size, shape and location of the
arch of a human foot. As such, the projection 46 can be seen in
FIGS. 12 through 14 to define continuous arcuate contours in both
the lateral and fore-aft directions of the wedge portion 12,
terminating at the planar surface portion 24a or the inside-foot
edge 20. These arcuate contours can be, for example, sinusoidal or
parabolic in shape. To provide adequate support for the arch, the
contours of the surface portion 24b preferably define an apex that
is at least ten millimeters, for example, about ten to about forty
millimeters, from the wedge plane 48. FIGS. 12 through 14 represent
the apex as located at the inside-foot edge 20, generally
consistent with the shape and location of the arch of a human foot.
The surface of the surface portions 24a and 24b are represented as
including small raised features 50, which can be configured to
provide a slip-resistant surface texture or serve as acupuncture
bumps.
[0037] Though represented as adapted to accommodate only one foot
(for illustrative purposes, FIGS. 12 through 14 depict a
right-footed device 10), the device 10 could be readily configured
to accommodate both feet, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9-11 and as
previously discussed in reference to FIG. 3, in which case the
device 10 would further include a second wedge portion and
projection that are preferably mirror images of the wedge portion
12 and projection 46 shown in FIGS. 12 through 14. The projection
46 is represented in FIGS. 12 through 14 as integrally formed with
the remainder of the device 10, for example, part of a freestanding
body formed as a one-piece molding of a hard plastic or rubber
material. As a result, the projection 46 may have a fixed shape and
height. Alternatively, the projection 46 could be a removable
feature allowing projections 46 of different shapes and heights to
be installed on the upper surface 24 of the wedge portion 12.
Furthermore, the projection 46 could be configured so that its
height and shape is adjustable. For example, the projection 46
could be a hollow feature that allows its shape and height to be
altered by injecting air or another suitable fluid (liquid or gas)
into a cavity located beneath the surface portion 24b, for example,
between the surface portion 24b and the wedge plane 48. In
addition, the projection 46 could be adjusted by various other
means, for example, with a jack and pinion,
[0038] Consistent with the prior embodiments, the fore-aft and
lateral tapers of the wedge portion 12 are sufficient so that
placement of a user's foot against the upper surface 24 of the
wedge portion 12 causes supination and locking of the foot to
enable stretching of the Achilles complex. More particularly, the
user's heel is supported at the heel end 16 by the planar surface
portion 24a, and the user's toes are supported at the toe end 18 by
the planar surface portion 24a. Additionally, the arch of the
user's foot is against and supported by the arcuate surface portion
24b between the heel and toe ends 16 and 18 of the wedge portion
12, with the result that the projection 46 at least minimizes if
not avoids stretching of the arch of the foot while a user
stretches their calf muscles and Achilles tendon with the device
10. As such, the device 10 represented in FIGS. 12 through 14 is
capable of avoiding the creation or worsening of a flatfoot
condition.
[0039] While the invention has been described in terms of specific
embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by
one skilled in the art. For example, the physical configuration of
the wedges and foot plates could differ from that shown, and
materials and processes other than those noted could be used.
Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the
following claims.
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